Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on Thursday, January 25, 2024.

Tanzania, Indonesia sign deals to boost cooperation

Tanzania and Indonesia on Thursday signed four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) as part of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s three-day state visit to the Southeast Asian nation on the invitation from President Joko Widodo.

The MoUs seek to improve cooperation between the two countries on agriculture, minerals and blue economy. The two countries also signed an MoU on diplomatic capacity-building cooperation.

Other agreements entered include the ones between the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (Tantrade) and PT Perusahaan Perdagangan Indonesia; the University of Dar es Salaam and Institute Technology in Bandung; and the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture (TCCIA), Zanzibar National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) and Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN).

Shortly after the signing ceremony, Samia said Tanzania and Indonesia share the vision to promote bilateral investment, promising to participate in the forthcoming Indonesia-Tanzania business and investment forum.

Through the platform, Tanzania is expected to highlight the trade and investment potential and opportunities available, with Samia luring Indonesia’s businesspeople to invest in Tanzania.

Samia and her host also discussed possibilities of partnership on building a safer planet, with the Tanzanian leader saying that access to clean cooking fuel not only empowers the community but also protects trees and the environment in general.

“In global conservation on protecting our environment, Tanzania continues to underscore the access to clean and safer cooking fuels and technologies,” the Head of State said. “We agreed to work more closely and share experience with Indonesia to support clean cooking solutions in Africa.”

Zanzibar Minister of Tourism resigns

Zanzibar’s Minister of Tourism and Heritage, Simai Mohamed Said, has resigned from his position after a year and ten months since his appointment on March 8, 2022. Before this role, Said served as the Minister of Education.

In a statement released last night, Said explained that his decision stems from circumstances that have made it challenging for him to fulfill his responsibilities.

 “The role of the President’s assistants, including the Ministers, is to assist in implementing the party’s manifesto. When faced with difficult circumstances, it is advisable to promptly seek solutions and, if necessary, step aside. I have decided to step aside,” said Said in his address.

While the specific issue prompting the Minister’s resignation is not yet known, two days ago, he convened an emergency meeting with restaurant and hotel stakeholders to discuss the shortage of liquor in the Isles.

Business owners complained that the shortage resulted from changes in procedures for liquor importation licenses introduced by the Zanzibar Liquor Board (ZLB). The Minister’s stance was that the issue needed swift resolution to prevent disruptions to the economy, heavily reliant on tourism.

Zanzibar to host ‘historic’ Battery Minerals Summit in April

A two-day summit is expected in Zanzibar from April 24 and 25, 2024, where local, regional and global actors in key battery minerals will advance the global green economy, address climate change, and allow select companies to meet the rapidly growing demand for key energy sources.

The 1st East African Battery Minerals Summit is organised by the East African Community (EAC), the African Battery Initiative, and the government of Tanzania in partnership with InvestBank Corp, which describes itself as a global investment bank.

A statement released by organisers on Wednesday noted that the summit will occur when the world grapples with the extreme effects of climate change, leading companies, investors, government agencies, and NGOs are focused on decarbonisation, sustainability, and creating significant impact.

Full story here.

Wednesday’s rallies and Freeman Mbowe’s future as leader of CHADEMA

On Wednesday, opposition party CHADEMA orchestrated a highly anticipated public demonstration – the inaugural one sanctioned by authorities since the Jakaya Kikwete era. The significance of this event was profound for both CHADEMA and governmental entities. 

CHADEMA sought to demonstrate their continued ability to draw a substantial audience. At the same time, the authorities aimed to reassure the public of their capacity to impartially supervise a public demonstration against the government, free from significant incidents.

Wednesday’s rallies, therefore, signified a triumph for every Tanzanian longing for a resurgence of ‘normalcy’ in the realm of political events within the nation. It is indisputably a victory for the constitution, underscoring that, in its existing state, adherence to its tenets offers a pathway for all Tanzanians to engage in the country’s political discourse actively.

Full analysis here.

Israel’s war in Gaza exposes the hypocrisy and brutality of Western powers

Does history tend to repeat itself? This past weekend, as I delved into Sydney Harris’s thought-provoking book Clearing the Ground, a particular passage caught my attention; it reads: “History repeats itself, but in such cunning disguise that we never detect the resemblance until the damage is done.” 

Though such reflections may sometimes seem nebulous, this assertion compelled me to pause and reconsider our contemporary world. Are there recurring patterns that, in their subtle recurrence, elude our immediate notice?

As my mind traversed the vast terrain of human history, from technological leaps to political upheavals, from wars to struggles for self-determination, one theme emerged like a beacon — humanity’s perennial quest for autonomy and self-actualisation.

Full analysis here.

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